RESOLUTION OF THE GRASS ROOTS OGLALA
LAKOTA OYATE OF THE OGLALA LAKOTA NATION

RESOLUTION OF THE GRASS ROOTS OGLALA LAKOTA OYATE OF THE OGLALA LAKOTA NATION TO PROHIBIT
RUDY AL JAMES AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNITED NATIVE NATIONS FROM CONDUCTING
REFERENDUM ELECTIONS THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY ABOLISH OUR SOVEREIGN TREATY RIGHTS.

WHEREAS, the GRASSROOTS OGLALA LAKOTA OYATE does hereby defend its authority under the
1868 Fort Laramie Treaty to prohibit Rudy Al James, a non-member, and other
representatives from United Native Nations from conducting referendum elections on the
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that will effectively abolish our sovereign treaty rights,
and

WHEREAS, Rudy Al James, Secretary-General, United Native Nations was initially invited
to come to the Red Cloud Building, along with several other constitutional attorneys,
reform consultants, etc. to provide technical assistance to the GRASSROOTS OGLALA LAKOTA
OYATE in their separation from IRA government and the initiation of a more
culturally-based form of governance to better serve the entire membership of the Oglala
Lakota Nation, and

WHEREAS, treaty elders at the Red Cloud Building had advised Mr. James, a non-member,
that he could make a presentation and that the General Council would discuss his
comments/suggestions in their regular evening meeting, and

WHEREAS, Mr. James, a non-member, has informed the Lakota oyate that
"self-governance" through the U.S. Indian Self-Determination Act is the only
solution to our current crisis and through the promise of immediate access to millions of
dollars in federal funds, has created false hope and illusion in the minds of many
impoverished Lakota oyate, and

WHEREAS, the Grass Roots Oyate have researched Mr. James claim of readily
accessible funds and found that such funds are only available through the relinquishment
of our water and/or mineral rights; the acceptance of funds accruing through the Black
Hills Claim Settlement Docket 74A & B (Great Sioux Nation v. U.S.), and

WHEREAS, treaty elders from throughout the Great Sioux Nation have spoken on the
subject of the Self-Determination Act and "self-governance" and have concluded
that this method applies to tribes without treaties in place and would not be the most
effective for the Oglala Lakota Nation because it would effectively abrogate our active
1868 Fort Laramie Treaty with the United States, and

WHEREAS, Mr. James, a non-member has publicly denounced the Oglala Lakota Traditional
General Council, of which he knows little about and has ridiculed the Grass Roots
Oyates efforts to return to a traditional form of governance under the specific
guidelines of societal and spiritual laws, and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the GRASSROOTS OGLALA LAKOTA OYATE of the Oglala Lakota
Nation does hereby defend its authority, under the guidelines of Article I of the 1868
Treaty at Fort Laramie, to prohibit Mr. Rudy Al James, and all United Native Nations
representatives from conducting referendum elections that will effectively abrogate our
sovereign treaty rights, and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the GRASSROOTS OGLALA LAKOTA OYATE have advised the
Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council of Mr. James plans and they have in turn
advised the United States Government that Mr. James and the United Native Nations do not
represent the Oglala Lakota oyate.